Delhi Court refuses to extend investigation period in MCOCA case against gangster Deepak Boxer

Delhi’s Patiala House Court has refused to extend the period of investigation beyond 90 days in a case against gangster Deepak Boxer.

Boxer, whose real name is Deepak Pahal, is in police custody in a case registered under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Act (MCOCA).

Special judge Shailendra Malik on Tuesday declined to extend the period of investigation beyond the normal limit of 90 days, saying that it is incumbent on the investigative agencies to carry out the investigation without any unnecessary delay. The Court observed that the extension of the investigation period cannot be taken as a mere formality as it would be denying the accused their right to liberty.

Referring to the provisions that allow for an extension of the investigative period, Judge Malik said, “Provision has been made to meet those situations where despite making sincere efforts, the nature of the case, facts and evidence is such that investigation is not possible to complete in 90 days.”

“In the present case however first of all report of the Public Prosecutor is completely silent about the specific reasons for which judicial detention of the accused is sought to be extended,” he observed.

The extension of the investigation period was sought by the authorities on grounds that certified copies of several cases registered against the accused Boxer were in the process of being collected, and applications for the same were already filed in different courts. The authorities were also waiting for details from the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax regarding the PAN card and income tax returns (ITRs) of the last ten years of the accused.

Judge Malik criticised the investigative agencies’ conduct, saying that merely mentioning the steps that are incomplete in the investigation is not grounds for an extension. He also criticised the handling of certain aspects of the case, such as the way the case diary was being maintained, saying that such conduct is grounds for dismissal of the application.

“Court of law would not act merely on the dictation of investigating agency,” he said. “Consequently [the court] finds no merit in the application. Therefore [the] application stands declined.”

The Court also directed to send a copy of the order to Additional CP Pramod Kumar Kushwaha and HGS Dhaliwal, Special CP (Special Cell).

Deepak Boxer, termed ‘biggest gangster in Delhi-NCR’, was nabbed from Mexico

The accused Deepak Boxer was arrested by the Delhi Police from Mexico on April 5 in a coordinated effort with foreign authorities. The arrest was conducted by a two-man team from Delhi Police, who were assisted by the FBI, local authorities, and the Indian Embassy in Mexico.

Boxer, a native of Haryana’s Sonipat, was wanted for multiple cases in the country, including the murder of a builder in Delhi’s Civil Lines.

“This is the first time [a criminal] has been brought from a place like Mexico. The Special Cell of Delhi Police was following him [Boxer] for several months. There is no other bigger gangster in Delhi-NCR than this,” HGS Dhaliwal, Special CP, Delhi Police, told ANI.